DENVER — A former Colorado sheriff’s deputy who was convicted of shooting and killing a 22-year-old man in distress who called 911 for help will be sentenced on Monday.
In February, jurors found Andrew Buen guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the 2022 death of Christian Glass, which drew national attention and prompted changes in how officers are trained to respond to people in mental health crises. Glass’s parents received a $19 million settlement.
Criminally negligent homicide often results in a penalty ranging from probation to three years in jail.
Buen, a former Clear Creek County constable, was convicted following a second trial. Nearly a year ago, another jury found him guilty of misdemeanour reckless endangerment for opening fire on other cops. However, jurors were unable to agree on a murder indictment or a charge of official misconduct.
Prosecutors opted to retry Buen for second-degree murder with Glass’ family’s cooperation. Jurors could also convict him of criminally negligent homicide, which is a less serious allegation.
Prosecutors claimed Buen unnecessarily escalated a standoff with Glass, who had signs of a mental health crisis and rejected orders to exit his SUV near Silver Plume, a small, former mining town along Interstate 70 in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver.
The defence said Buen was legally justified in shooting Glass, who was holding a knife, to protect a fellow cop.
Law enforcement officials are rarely convicted of more serious charges, according to experts, since jurors prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt based on how they perform in an emergency.
In 2023, a police officer and two paramedics were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the murder of Elijah McClain in Colorado, a Black man whose name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the United States in 2020.
One of the paramedics was also convicted of second-degree assault, which carries a harsher prison sentence. A judge eventually released him from prison and sentenced him to probation instead.